Dishwasher door assembly

Abstract

An outer door panel for an appliance door assembly is provided which includes a frame comprising opposite lateral sides, an outer surface extending from the frame and bowed between the lateral sides, and a recessed control mounting surface extending from the outer surface between the lateral sides.

1. An outer door panel for an appliance door assembly, said outer door panel having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a frame comprising opposite lateral sides, a top edge, and a bottom edge; 
 an outer surface extending from said frame, said outer surface outwardly curved between said lateral sides, said outwardly curved outer surface extending from said top to said bottom edges; and 
 a recessed control mounting surface comprising a bottom side and an opposing top side, said recessed control mounting surface extending inwardly and upwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis from said outer surface at said bottom side between said lateral sides, said top side positioned a distance from said top edge, a portion of said outer surface extending between said top side and said top edge of said frame, at a vertical line defined on said outer surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, said top side extending outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis a first distance and said bottom side extending outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis a second distance substantially equal to said first distance. 
 
   
   
     2. An outer door panel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said appliance door assembly is a dishwasher door assembly, said outer door panel defining a control panel cutout, said control mounting surface received within said cutout. 
   
   
     3. An outer door panel in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said outer surface is fabricated from metal. 
   
   
     4. An outer door panel in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said control mounting surface is fabricated from plastic. 
   
   
     5. An outer door panel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said panel is unitary. 
   
   
     6. A unitary outer door panel for a dishwasher, said outer door panel comprising:
 a frame portion comprising opposing lateral sides, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a longitudinal axis; 
 an outer surface portion extending between said opposing lateral sides and said top and bottom edges of said frame portion, said frame portion and said outer surface portion formed as a single piece, said outer surface portion outwardly curved between said lateral sides, said outwardly curved outer surface portion extending from said top to said bottom edges; and 
 a control panel mounting surface within said frame portion and surrounded by said outer surface portion, said control panel mounting surface comprising a bottom side and a top side, said control panel mounting surface inwardly inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis, such that said control panel mounting surface is mostly shielded by said outer surface portion, a portion of said outer surface extending between said top side and said top edge of said frame, at a vertical line defined on said outer surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, said top side extending outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis a first distance and said bottom side extending outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis a second distance substantially equal to said first distance. 
 
   
   
     7. An outer door panel in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said outer surface portion extends above and below, and on either side of said control panel mounting surface. 
   
   
     8. An outer door panel in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said control panel mounting surface is configured to receive a control panel. 
   
   
     9. An outer door panel in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said control mounting surface is fabricated from plastic. 
   
   
     10. An outer door panel in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said outer surface portion and said frame portion are fabricated from a single piece of metal.